Anti-splatter cover for microwave cooking

Abstract

A device for preventing food splatter during microwave cooking includes a sheet of material capable of maintaining a crease, and which has at least one crease that extends across the sheet. The device is positioned over a food disposed on an open dish with the crease extending across the dish and with the crease being at an apex of the sheet while the food is heated in a microwave oven. The invention provides a convenient, easy to use and inexpensive device and method for preventing food splatter during microwave cooking of food in an open container such as a plate or bowl.

The invention claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device for preventing food splatter during microwave cooking, comprising: 
 a sheet of material capable of maintaining a crease, said sheet of material having at least one crease that extends across said sheet, said sheet having a perimeter that conforms to an open food container, and an adhesive adjacent an edge of the sheet to facilitate retainment of the device on an open food container during microwave cooking of a food.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter defines a continuous curved geometric shape.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter defines a circular geometric shape.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter defines a polylobal geometric shape.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter defines a polygonal geometric shape.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter defines a teardrop geometric shape.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter defines a fluted shape.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet material is waxed paper.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet material is freezer paper.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet material has a plurality of perforations to allow enhanced ventilation of steam from food being heated in a microwave oven.  
     
     
         11 . A device for preventing food splatter during microwave cooking, comprising: 
 a sheet of material capable of maintaining a crease, said sheet of material including at least one crease that extends across said sheet of material, and at least one tab that projects from an edge of the device, said tab providing a lift handle for removing the device from an open container after use.    
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the sheet of material has a perimeter defining a geometric shape that conforms generally with the shape of a food container.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the perimeter defines a generally circular geometric shape, with the tabs projecting from the edges of the generally circular perimeter.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the perimeter defines a generally polygonal shape, with the tabs projecting from the edges of the generally polygonal shaped perimeter.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the perimeter defines a generally hexagonal shape.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the perimeter defines a generally teardrop shape, with the tabs projecting from the edges of the generally teardrop shaped perimeter.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the perimeter defines a generally fluted shape, with the tabs projecting from the edges of the fluted perimeter.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein an adhesive is applied to said tab, whereby the device may be secured to the rim of an open container.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the sheet material is waxed paper.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the sheet material is freezer paper.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the sheet material has a plurality of perforations to allow enchanced ventilation of steam from food being heated in a microwave oven.  
     
     
         22 . A method for preventing food splatter during microwave cooking, comprising: 
 providing a sheet of material capable of maintaining a crease;    forming a crease in said sheet of material that extends across said sheet of material; and    positioning the creased sheet of material over a food disposed on an open dish with the crease extending across the dish, and with the crease being at an apex of the sheet while the food is heated in a microwave oven.    
     
     
         23 . A boxed roll of creaseable sheet material which is pre-cut or pre-scored to define a series of adjacent separable segments, each segment having a crease that extends across the segment.  
     
     
         24 . A device for preventing food splatter during microwave cooking, comprising: 
 a sheet of material capable of maintaining a crease, said sheet of material having at least one crease that extends across said sheet, said sheet having a perimeter that conforms to an open food container, and said sheet having a plurality of uniformly sized and spaced apart perforations which facilitate uniform venting of steam from food being cooked in a microwave oven.    
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein said sheet includes at least one tab that projects from an edge of the device, said tab providing a lift handle for removing the device from an open container after use.  
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 24 , further comprising an adhesive adjacent an edge of the sheet to facilitate retainment of the device on an open food container during microwave cooking of a food.  
     
     
         27 . A device for preventing food splatter during microwave cooking, comprising: 
 a sheet of material capable of maintaining a crease, said sheet of material having at least one crease that extends across said sheet, said sheet having a perimeter that defines a continuous curved geometric shape.    
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein the perimeter defines a circular geometric shape.  
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein the perimeter defines a polylobal geometric shape.